Ambassador Michael Oren's Thanksgiving message

From Michael Oren's Facebook page:

Thanksgiving in Hebrew is called הוֹדָיָיָה. On Thanksgiving, Americans traditionally eat turkey, which in Hebrew is called הוֹדו, and comes from the word thanks. Many of the Puritans who celebrated the 1st Thanksgiving 400 years ago knew Hebrew and perhaps the reason they ate turkey during that holiday was because the words for thanks and turkey are the same.

With that in mind, the People of Israel wish all our dear friends in America a fulfilling and joyous Thanksgiving.

It is a nice message, although since turkeys are a New World bird, the Hebrew appellation of "hodu" postdates the Pilgrims.

But either way, I wish my American readers a happy Thanksgiving!